According to the insurance board of Canada, automobile theft costs Canadians close to $1 billion every year. This includes $542 million for insurers to fix or replace stolen cars, $250 million in police, health-care and court-system costs and millions more for correctional services.

According to the IBC,the number of vehicles stolen annually has dropped dramatically in recent years to 78,000 in 2012 which is 4,500 fewer vehicle thefts than in 2011, and a 57 per cent drop from a decade ago. Still, motor vehicle theft is big business for criminals in the country and, in general, the more frequently the make or model of car you own is stolen, the bigger your insurance premiums will be.

We take a look at which cars are targeted most often by thieves in Canada and offer some tips on how to protect yourself and your vehicle.

Atlantic Canada's 10 most stolen vehicles

In Atlantic Canada, thieves’ tastes are shifting from Jeep Cherokees and four-wheel drive trucks to a mix of SUVs and older compact cars. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reports many 4×4 and all-wheel-drive trucks and vehicles, still among the hottest targets generally, end up being shipped overseas to Eastern Europe, the Middle East and West Africa via organized crime rings.

In Alberta, big Ford pickups are all the rage for thieves. Eight out of the 10 most frequently stolen vehicles are either Ford F-250 or F-350 models. The 2007 F-250, a perennial most-stolen list-topper for the province, was toppled and replaced by the 2004 model this year.

Two years ago, vehicle thieves in Ontario had a penchant for Cadillac Escalades. Last year they shifted their attention towards Acuras and Toyotas. Those Japanese makes still make up a good chunk of the list, but the Cadillac came back to take the top spot this year.

We’re sure one of the country’s long-time number one stolen vehicles, the 2000 Honda Civic SiR, is still a popular target for thieves in Canada, but for the first time in a while it’s actually fallen off of this year’s top 10 list. It makes way for the 2005 Ford F-350 which takes home the dubious honour of being Canada’s msot stolen vehicle in 2015. Overall heavy-duty Ford pickups accounted for nine of the top 10 most stolen vehicles in the country this year.

So what can you do to keep your car from appearing on one of those lists? Well, for starters, don’t leave your keys sitting there where any old car thief can get at them. Even if you’re just stepping into a store or paying for gas, you should never leave your car running or the keys inside. It takes only a few seconds for someone to jump in and take off—according to the IBC, approximately 20 per cent of all stolen cars have keys in them.

Roll up your windows and lock your doors

Thieves love easy targets, and leaving your windows down or your doors unlocked makes it that much easier to get inside your car and steal it.

Get a highly-visible deterrent/alarm sticker

Thieves need to work quickly, and anything that’s going to eat up time like a wheel club or a pedal lock could send them looking for another victim. Visible alarm stickers also act as deterrents as many thieves will not want to deal with a car alarm.

Use your garage

If your house has a garage, that is the best place to keep your car at night to prevent it from being stolen. It’s much easier to steal a car in the driveway than one where you have to break in to the garage first.

Hide your valuables

Personal items like purses, iPods or cell phones left in the open are easy prey for thieves. Tuck your valuables where thieves can’t see them. It’s best to do this before you leave home if possible as thieves sometimes sit in parking lots, watching people tuck stuff away.

Don't program your home address into your GPS

If your car is stolen and you have your home address listed in your GPS, the thief could potentially drive right to your house, and if your car has a garage door opener, get inside. Instead, program the address of a business a few blocks away – that will get you back into familiar territory.

Keep your keys safe at all times

At home, most people keep their keys close to the door. You should make sure they’re not visible to someone looking in though. In the middle of the night, a thief could break the glass, grab the keys, and drive away in your car before you make it downstairs. Similarly you should never leave your spare car key hidden in the vehicle.

Take care in Public Parking Garages

Choose a spot in a well-travelled and well-lit area, but not right at the door as this can help thieves make a quick exit. You should also be aware of your surroundings and pay attention. This isn’t the time to be walking and texting.

Tackle tow thiefs

Rather than driving off in your vehicle, some thieves will actually tow your vehicle away. Using the emergency park/handbrake when you leave your vehicle will help minimize the risk of this happening to you. If your car has a manual transmission you should leave it in gear when parking, or if your car has an automatic transmission make sure you leave it in ‘Park’.

Get an engine immobilizer

Engine immobilizers, which have been mandatory in Canada since 2008, are anti-theft devices that prevents the vehicle from starting if the correct microchipped key isn’t used. If your car is older and is not equipped with such a device you may want to have an after-market version installed.

Drive stick

This one might seem a bit strange at first glance, but the fact is, fewer and fewer drivers out there today know how to drive a car with a manual transmission. If a thief can’t drive a stick, they can’t take your car.